Civil Action

Civil Action

A lawsuit brought to enforce, redress, or protect rights of private litigants—the plaintiffs and the defendants—not a criminal proceeding.

Today, courts in the United States generally are not divided into common-law courts and Equity courts because most states and the federal government have merged the procedures for law and equity into one system. Now all kinds of lawsuits are simply called civil actions without the former distinctions of procedure in law or in equity.

A criminal proceeding is called a penal action to distinguish it from civil actions.

civil action

n. any lawsuit relating to civil matters and not criminal prosecution. (See: lawsuit)

CIVIL ACTION. In New York, actions are divided only into two kinds, namely,
criminal and civil. A criminal action is prosecuted by the state, as a
party, against a person charged with a public offence, for the punishment
thereof. Every other action is a civil action. Code of Procedure, s. 4, 5,
6; 3 Bouv. Inst. n. 2638. In common parlance, however, writs of mandamus,
certiorari, habeas corpus, &c., are not comprised by the expression, civil
actions. 6 Bin. Rep. 9.

Meanwhile, Wirral council is looking at the possibility of launching a pilot project in Seacombe where civil action would be taken against nuisance neighbours and people displaying anti-social behaviour.

The Anti-Hoax Terrorism Act, which Smith introduced and to which Schiff is one of several original co-sponsors, makes perpetrators of terrorism hoaxes subject to at least five years in prison in addition to liability in a civil action and liability for reimbursing any costs connected to the false alarm.

WHX Corporation today reported that it has reached an agreement with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the "PBGC"), Wheeling-Pittsburgh Corporation and its debtor affiliates (collectively, "WPC"), and The United Steelworkers of America ("USWA") that will result in a settlement of the Civil Action brought by the PBGC against WHX in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ("Civil Action").

Geldof was joined by Ulster's First Minister David Trimble, former Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson and boxing hero Barry McGuigan in calling for funds to help the families of those killed mount a civil action against the alleged bombers.

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